Morning Meditations: Reproof and Correction

From my morning devotion:

Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

also:

Proverbs 29:17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Let's consult Mr Webster:

Reproof - Blame expressed to the face; censure for a fault; reprehension.

Correct - Literally, set right, or made straight.

In order to raise godly children we must be consistent. We must not let a child raise themselves or they will not turn out well at all.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Simply spanking them every time they do something wrong is unbiblical. It is provoking them to anger and sin. But when combined with reproof and correction spanking becomes an invaluable part of child rearing.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The use of scripture in discipline of children not only helpful to teach them scripture, but it also gives us a baseline for our own consistency.

Lord, help us to get into the Bible everyday. Help us to be more consistent in the discipline of our children. In Jesus name, amen.